Upholstery construction



July 24, 1928. 1,678,474

M. KRAUSE UPHOLSTERY CONSTRUCTION Filed May 31, 1924 2 ysheets-sheet 2 Patented July 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,678,474 PATENT OFFICE,

MAX KRAUSE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.I

UPHOLSTERY CONSTRUCTION;

Application tiled May 31 The present improvements relate to means for carrying the weight imposed upon the seat' of a chair, lounge, davenport, and similar articles of furniture. Its chief objects are to provide in upholstery construction w means.

the upholstery construction, as witness the patents to Staples 534,844 of February 26, 1895, and 531,477 of December 25, 1894, and the patent to Foster 529,485 of November 20, 1894. rIhe present 'improvements are with 2@ respect to flexible fabric webs as distinguished from metallic supports for the springs.

In. the accompanying drawlngs, which forma part of this specification, Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional View showing a 2g, preferred form of the improvement as aplied for use; Fig. 2 shows the structure of ig. 1 before the web-tightening-andrholding element is driven into the frame; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan on a smaller scale showing the elements of Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a sectional View as on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a perspective, on an enlarged scale, of

` the web-holding element shown in the preals viously mentioned figures; Fig.6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 7 showing a modified construction; Fi a bottom plan of the parts of Fig. 6; 1 .8 is a view similar to that of Fig. 4, ut showing another modified construction, and being taken on the line 8--8 of Fig. 9; Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig.

8; Fig. '10 is a perspective of another form of holding device; Fig. 11 is a bottom view showing the usual and well-known method of attaching the fabric webs to the frame; and F` 12 is a sectional View -on the line 12--12 of ig. 11. i n

In upholstery constructionl for seats, it is ordinary and well-known practice to provide a plurality of parallellongitudinal webs 15 and a plurality of parallel transverse webs 16, the -two series of crossing webs being interwoven or interlaced, as well shown in Fig. 3. In certain of the constructions a separate wooden frame 'is provided, which may be rectangular or vhave some other shape 1924.` Serial No. 716,852.

as called for by the shape of the seat or back of the upholstered article, the frame being open at top and bottom. Such frame parts are lnarked 17 in the drawings. In lieu of such separable frame the structure of the chair or other article may constitute the frame. In old practice, as shown in Figs. l1 and 12, the fabric webs arc folded at their ends and simply nailed to the frame, as by relatively long nails 18, the webs having first been drawn as taut as reasonably possible.

The webs 15 and 16 constitute supporting elements for a plurality of' springs 19, and at the other ends of these springs there is padding and a finishing piece of fabric, not shown but well understood.-

The weight of the person is therefore communicated through the springs to the webs 15 and 16. According to the old practice, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, this pressure is communicated 'to the nails, as 18,

substantially in the direction of the nails.

The oft-repeated pressures upon these nails works them loose, especially after the wood of the frame dries'out. Another objection is that these relatively long nails driven into a relatively narrow trame cause the wood to split whereby ithe nails become loose. For various reasons, after one series of nails has been driven into the frame at a given place the repair job by adding additional or other nails is unsatisfactory. The old construction does not provide the desired strength and security,ffreedom from the necessity of repairs, or length of life of the parts in service.

According to the present improvements the objection to the old practice is overcome to a very notable extent through the provision of a web-holding element which relieves the nails ofmuch of the strain upon them and changes' the direction of such strains to one normally at right angles to the direction of the nails, thus avoiding their pulling out, and at the same timev permitting 'the use of much smaller nails, savino the present improvements is shown in Figs. 1

to 5 inclusive, in which the web holder or hanger 20 is shown as substantially U- shaped piece of ironor steel Wire having a part 20a and two upstanding end parts or llegs 20", each having a spike element 2t)c extending substantially at right angles to the legs 2Ob respectively. The thickness of this wire will vary according to the strength desired, but in ordinary practice ordinary iron wire one-eighth of ari-inch in diameter will be found satisfactory. The length of the part 20a is preferably such that the web as 16 will convenientlyft between the legs 20", as well shown in Fig. 4, and lie on the normally under surface of the web. I find that a length of about one and` one-quarter inches for the legs 20b is satisfactory, but their length may vary. The spikes 2Oc may well be three-fourths of an inch in length, but for a relatively thin frame part they could be shortened.

To apply the structure 2O the preliminary steps may be taken as in old practice, except that the nails 21 may be considerably smaller than ordinarily employed, and may be ordinary tacks of about the size known as carpet tacks. The member 20 is then applied as shown in Fig. 2, (before the springs 19 are ositioned, however) and the member 2() having been drawn upward so that the part 20 is snug and tight against the fabric the spikes 20c are driven into the wood and then occupy the position shown in Fig. 1..

. The effect of driving the spikes into the wood and then by the nails holding the web u on is to draw the part 20a upward,.taiitenin the web. To prevent undue wear upon the abric the lower inner corner of the frame 17 1s rounded at 22. The result of the applicationl is that the web has.A been tightened' quite materiall and at the same time an element has been interposed which takes much of thedownward strains and converts the ull upon the n ailsas21 into a right angle ull as mentioned. Instead of extending 'rectly inward, the web is made to extend upward a short distance along the lower inner-con' nerl portion of the frame and then inward the web being given what may be termed a compound ben as well 'seen-in Fig. 1, and the normallydownward strains upon the web are lirst takenr by the holder or hanger the lower edge surface of e frame. e downward pull upon the hanger is at substantially right angles to the spikes 20, making for great strength and security of construction. In order to insure thespikes 20c aga-inst working out such locking provisions as barbs shown in Fig. 5 may be provided.

Referring to Fi 6 and 7y the construction of the hook'e ement 24 is substantially the same as shownin Fig.. 5. A. sheet-metal clip 2 5 havin two parts adapted-to be sprung apart or insertion of the holder 24, and ada ted to lie upon the fabric at the wood a ords rotection for the fabric and. cooperates in olding the fabric. The substantially tubular'part 26 of the clip'contacts thefabric and ws it tighterwhen .through its use an unusua y nemen avoiding all sagging there and providing a strong and permanent holding element adapted to take much of the strain, and to provide a firm, safe and secure connection.

Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, a construction is there illustrated according to which a relatively long rod 30 serves as the support for the fabric and this rod is held in position by clips 31 spaced apart preferably the width of the fabric web and secured as by nails 32 to the frame 17. In a long structure like a davenport the single wire or rod 30 may extend the full length of the seat. When it is desired to take the structure apart this rod may simply be drawn out of the clips 31 and the relatively short nails 33, Fig. 9. pried out. The nails 32 hold the clips 31 strongly to the frame so that the downward pressure .is communicated strongly to them, and at right an les to their direction, and the strains upon t e fabric are communicated at right an les to the direction of the nails 33 also. T e fabric web 16 ma be tightened by the drawing effect of t e nails vas theyare applied. l

In Fig. 10 I have shown al structure com prising a wire link 25 upon which are position'ed two cli s 36` and 37, these clips being respectively li ethe clips of Figs. 6 and 7. This device is applied in part as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, whi e the upwardly extendin clip 33 takes the place of the spike-ende holder 24. The strains of service'are similarly communicated to the attachment de'- vice, and these strains are at all times in a direction at right angles to the direction of the nails passing through the holes 39 and 40 shown.4

The construction of this attachment, in any of the forms illustrated is exceedingl simple and cheap, very easil applied, an

stron' construction is'eil'ected, to the -end that t e expense and annoyance experienced with the construction of Figs. 11 and 12 are overcome and the life of the-parts'in service is greatly increased.

`It is to be understood, of course, that 'the holding member is applied to each of the. webs where'secured to the frame, and that the webs extend across the open bottom of= the frame and are secured to it at each end of the web sections respectively.

I contemplate as be' included in these improvements such mo cations of and departures from what is herein specifically I illustrated and described as fall the scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. In upholster acter described, t part, a flexible normally under auxiliary supporting means fgr the web ing t comprislng a member secured to the .frame and passin across the web onits normall under sur ace adjacent to the `frame an holding theweb in normally raised posi-- tionat the lower edge of the frame where the web extends inwardl therefrom and' converting downward strains applied upon the webat places inward of the frame into upward strains upon the web where it extends between the lower 'surface of the `frame and said vsupporting means.

2. In upholste acter described, .t part, edge construction of the chare combination of a frame a web secured. to the normally lower ortion thereof, and means for draw. e y web normallyl upward above l inner lower edge portion and holding 'the web so that it extends first upward from the lower inner edge portion of the frame and then substantially at right angles to the frame.

3. Inupholste construction of the character described, t e combination of a frame part, a` lurality of webs of the character describe having cured as-by 'nails or the mally bottom tending 'ke to the norinward lt erefrom in the same general direction, and a web-holding member including a rod'on the under surfaces of ksaid webs respectively closely adjacent to the frame, with rod-holding clips at intervals secured tothe frame and arranged to hold said rod in a relative position at the frame to convert the ull upon the nails or the like to one substantially at right langles tothe direction thereof res tively.

their res ective ends se-l ede of the frame and ex 

